Ionia Community Library opens a new chapter

Wednesday

May 8, 2013 at 8:03 PMMay 8, 2013 at 8:13 PM

Board hires Denise McKernan as director, welcomes with open house Friday

Karen Botakaren.bota@sentinel-standard.com

As a high school student, Denise McKernan discovered she loved working as an assistant in the school library. She did the same throughout college, and then turned a lifelong passion for books and reading into a career path for herself.

McKernan, who has more than a dozen years of library experience, is the new director of the Ionia Community Library. She moved to Ionia from Flint last week and started work at the library May 3.

The public is invited to welcome her officially at an open house and reception with refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday at the library.

"Every library has its own personality," said McKernan. "I'm getting a sense of (the Ionia Community Library's) inner workings. It seems to be running so smoothly."

She said she brings a dedication to patron services, and wants to ensure that "everyone who comes in gets the best service and accomplishes what they came to do."

Most recently, McKernan was library coordinator at Davenport University's Flint campus, and before that at the university's Caro campus. The school caters to non-traditional college students who often are not familiar with computers. That meant she and other staff had to be strong on patience and enthusiasm to assist patrons so that they became comfortable with a technology that was new to them, she said. She wanted to bring that experience with her to a public library.

"Libraries are undergoing a lot of change right now," McKernan said. "It's exciting to see the different technologies, particularly as someone interested in public libraries who works with those who grew up with technology and those who didn't."

McKernan made a strong impression on the library's board of trustees when she interviewed, said its president, Gale Yeomans.

"On paper, Denise's education rose up, well off the page. She definitely has the highest level of education in her field of library science," said Yeomans. "In person, we were very impressed with her thoughtful answers, her calm demeanor, her positive attitude and her common sense, if that's a tangible thing."

McKernan holds a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and is "a thesis away" from a master's degree in American history from the University of Nebraska. She holds two bachelor's degrees from St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn.

McKernan also has experience designing programs, writing grant proposals and leading tours, gained when she was museum curator at the St. Vincent Gristmill Museum.

Yeomans added that it was important to find someone to complement "the great staff" and who could become part of a cohesive group.

"Everyone here has been fantastic and welcoming, even on the busiest days," McKernan said of the staff. "At the circulation desk, they were still helping patrons but also showing me around."

McKernan also is making herself at home in town. She and her sister shopped Main Street last Saturday and purchased furniture and other items there to outfit her house.

"I enjoyed meeting the merchants. They were all very nice," she said. "I love people and being part of the community, getting to know everybody."

As a musician – she plays classical guitar and bluegrass – McKernan is looking forward to Music on the Green at First United Methodist Church.

"Ionia is a musical city," she said. "I'm impressed with so many things the people in the community are involved in. I've already been invited to join a few. I'm happy people are so welcoming."

Although this is McKernan's first library directorship, the board felt she was the right person for the job.

"We're confident that her background, personality and professional resume, together with our excellent staff, should be a good fit for the Ionia Community Library," Yeomans said. "We're very happy to have her here. We hope Ionia will help us welcome her to the community."